Marquez Returns to Winning Ways in Germany

Marc Marquez claimed his first victory since the Grand Prix of the Americas back in April with a dominant display at the Sachsenring. The world champion hit the front five laps in and promptly disappeared into the distance with teammate Dani Pedrosa taking second ahead of Valentino Rossi who extended his championship lead in third.

The Repsol Hondas headed into the race as favourites for victory but Jorge Lorenzo had other ideas with a typically blistering start from the outside of the front row. The Movistar Yamaha rider led Marquez, Pedrosa and Rossi with Andrea Iannone leading the second group comprising of the satellite contenders.

Despite a huge moment through turn five, Rossi was looking dangerous on the tail of Pedrosa’s Honda and under braking for turn twelve on lap five, ‘The Doctor’ swept through into third but he wouldn’t get much of a look at the leading Repsol Honda, with Marquez scything past Lorenzo for the lead at the very next bend.

Rossi next turned his attention to Lorenzo with the two championship rivals going into battle over second spot. The Italian staked his claim at turn twelve on lap seven, only to run wide and allow his teammate back through, but a second move next time around proved much more successful. The bad news for Rossi though, was that Marquez had disappeared two seconds up the road in the meantime.

Pedrosa needed another three laps to relegate Lorenzo to fourth but Rossi put up a much stronger defence on the no.46 Yamaha. Dani dived through into second on lap seventeen but Valentino continued to match the Spaniard’s pace, that was until Pedrosa edged clear a couple of laps from home. Marquez was comfortably clear though, and with Dani hanging on for second, Repsol Honda were able to celebrate their first 1-2 since their last visit to the Sachsenring.

Lorenzo trailed home in fourth ahead of Iannone with Bradley Smith winning the satellite battle for the fifth time this year, pipping Cal Crutchlow for sixth. Pol Espargaro clawed his way past Danilo Petrucci for eighth while Aleix Espargaro won a photo finish with his Suzuki teammate Maverick Vinales to round out the top ten.